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Gwadar

Gwadar is a port city in southwestern Balochistan. It sits on the shore of the Arabian Sea, and is close to the border with Iran. The city was part of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman until 1958, when it was purchased by Pakistan.

Although the city has major strategic benefit potential, the potential has yet to be fully utilized. However, Gwadar is a major focus point of CPEC, and Chinese investment in the region is picking up, so there should be much development in the coming years.

Although Gwadar itself is of little interest to tourists, the Makran Coastal Highway, and several natural sights in the area, make Gwadar a good base to explore the region. Because Gwadar sees little tourism, we have included all the information for our Gwadar travel guide on this main page.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Best time to visit Gwadar

The best time to visit Gwadar is from December until March. Temperatures regularly soar above 30°C, with maximum temperatures reaching 40°C and up.

Best things to do in Gwadar

Gwadar Beach

Gwadar beach is the main beach of Gwadar, and a perfect place to relax and enjoy the views. The adjacent East-Bay Park is the perfect spot to hide from the sun and have a picnic.

Sur Mud Volcanoes

Balochistan is home so several mud volcanoes. Unlike other volcanoes, which expel lava, these volcanoes expel mud. The Sur Mud Volcanoes can be found along the Makran coast.

Akara National Park

This park, north of Gwadar, has pleasant walking routes and is a good place to escape from the city.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Best places to stay in Gwadar

Gwadar is frequented mostly by business travelers. This clientele is reflected in the hotels on offer.

Luxury: Zaver Pearl Continental– Situated atop Koh-e-Batil Hill, the 5-star Zaver Pearl Continental is the business hotel in Gwadar. Rooms and service are up to international standards. It boasts an excellent location with supreme views, and on-site dining options.

Luxury: Sadaf Resort Gwadar– Sadaf Resort is conveniently located in the middle of the city, so you’ll never be far from any of the major sites. The facilities are of a high standard, as is to be expected of a business hotel.

Luxury: Marjan Hotel– The Marjan Hotel is situated in an excellent location overlooking the water, has security, and has a good restaurant offering a variety of cuisines.

How to get to Gwadar

Road

The Makran Coastal Highway connects Gwadar to Karachi. The distance between Gwadar and Karachi is roughly 650km. The road is in good condition, and the total journey should take 8-10 hours. It passes Pasni (120 km from Gwadar) and Ormara (275 km from Gwadar), which can serve as possible stop overs to break up your journey, or tourist destinations in themselves.

The road from Gwadar leads further to the Iran border, but the border is not open for traffic. There are several military checkpoints all along the Makran Coastal Highway. Make sure to bring proper identification when driving here.

Air

There is one daily flight between Karachi and Gwadar, operated by Pakistan International Airways. The duration of the flight is roughly two hours. Please check the PIA website for more details.

Have something to add?

If you have information or photos not included in this guide, feel free to let us know and we’ll include your contribution in the guide.